Fletcher Jones Foundation Grants $1 Million for Occidental Renovation

June 29, 2010

The Fletcher Jones Foundation has granted $1 million to Occidental College for the renovation and expansion of one of the College's principal academic buildings, a historic structure that houses one-third of the faculty.

The Fletcher Jones Foundation grant will help improve 96-year-old James Swan Hall, a three-story building originally designed by noted architect Myron Hunt as a men's dormitory. The philanthropic interest of the Pasadena, Calif.-based foundation-named for its late benefactor, Fletcher Jones, the co-founder of the technology company Computer Sciences Corp.--focuses on supporting private colleges and universities, especially those located in California.

"This is the College's most important building project," said Occidental President Jonathan Veitch. "Swan is a busy place for faculty and students, and its floor plan is woefully out of date. Through the Fletcher Jones Foundation's generosity, the much-beloved Swan Hall will once again become one of the most important buildings on campus."

After the18-month renovation is complete, Swan Hall will have more than doubled its current space with new offices, seminar rooms, flexible instruction and lecture space, and psychology labs. The project includes seismic reinforcing, making the entire building accessible for the first time, and the upgrading of all building systems. All original exterior details, including windows, doors, and roof, will be fully documented and repaired or replicated.

The Swan Hall expansion will sit prominently at the campus's main entrance, creating a visual anchor to the College's gateway that will be in harmony with Occidental's architectural heritage. The entire project will be designed to meet LEED silver standard, the internationally recognized green building certification system.

Occidental hired Ontario-based architect Brian R. Bloom to design and guide Swan Hall's renovation. The award-winning architect directed the renovation of another Myron Hunt building on campus, Erdman Hall, in 2008. Bloom and his firm also designed the renovation and addition of buildings at USC, Pomona College, and the University of Redlands.

The Swan Hall renovation, which will begin this summer, will cost an estimated $19.8 million. Bond revenues and private contributions, together with Fletcher Jones Foundation grant, will cover the bulk of the cost.

For more information about the Fletcher Jones Foundation, go to: http://www.fletcherjonesfdn.org/.

For architectural renderings and more information about Swan Hall, go to: http://www.oxy.edu/x9357.xml .